I can't sleep! Help.

[Allison Reynolds]

Sure I normally don't sleep early, but that is mostly on purpose. Recently, I couldn't get too sleep every day until it reached 8:00 in the morning or so, and this time it's accidental.
Must be all those smurfin' energy drinks, I began taking everyday... Got to cut that shit from my diet.

This is a big deal for me, cuz I can't waste my entire day sleeping, since I am a full time student, and work fulltime too, along with other important happenings, that I can't afford being worn out an tired during.

Any tips to help me get to sleep regularly again, because this is really annoying.

[emoney3265]

I'd say cut energy drinks out and only drink soda if you have to have some sugary drink in your diet. And drink water or warm milk before you go to sleep. Maybe have a heated bed (heated blanket) could help too. I love mine and I fall asleep within 15 minutes. Uhhh... total darkness can help. Don't eat sugar within a few hours of going to bed.

[ThereIsNoAbsurdistOnlyZuul]

Melatonin may help. It is a natural hormone that is associated with sleep cycles. It helps with me, as I am chronically bad at sleeping, but it dries out my eyes for some strange reason.

Also, you should nix the caffeine from your diet in general.

[emoney3265]

O and exercise too. It'll wear you out. Plus it makes it easier to wake up in the morning. I need to start working out again... Damn cold weather prevents me from running. I can't breath in that cold air.

[Mac]

Energy Drinks = Mess with your body big time. Theyre actually dangerous for your heart, metabolism and your brain. cut 'em off. If you're a caffine-aholic try tea (Best healthiest source of natural caffine) coffee or soda. Energy Drinks have manufactured chemicals they use to create a psuedo -caffine that works with the "natural" caffine they artifically insert in the drink.

[H-Fist]

All of the above is useful advice. Also, I'd suggest setting aside time to wind down at night. Turn off the computer, the video games, the TV...anything that is unnecessarily stimulating. Read something light, that you can get enough out of without having to focus on every word. More or less, just let the day go. It's over and done with.

When I was in class full time and working 30+ hours, I needed the exercise and the elimination of caffeine to get to sleep. That really is important. And make sure you do something to want to do. Energy expended unwillingly (if you don't like a job or have an essay you really hated reading) won't tire you out the way willfully expended energy-related exhaustion will.

[Agent P]

Watch episodes of Nitro from 1999. Seriously, I still use that as a sleeping aide.